Litchfield Board of Education to decide on policy change

LITCHFIELD >> The Board of Education may vote to change the conflict of interest policy in its bylaws at the Oct. 2 regular meeting after changes were discussed during Thursday night’s policy meeting.

Policy board members and Superintendent Deborah Wheeler spoke with the board’s attorney Frederick Dorsey via conference call. This particular bylaw became an issue of contention given that members cannot enforce the policy listed. The conflict of interest bylaw, #9270, has existed for 30 years but has been changed several times.

The only enforceable portion of the bylaw is that which is in line with town ethics policies.

“Just because it’s written doesn’t mean you can do anything with it,” Dorsey said.

The changes, if approved by the education board’s regular committee, will eliminate the Revolving Door Policy and add a paragraph noting that the board cannot enforce this policy.

“While it is the intent that board members abide by this policy, enforcement is governed by the Town’s ethics policies and procedures,” the second line of the revised bylaw will read.

The revolving door policy states that the board “shall not” hire or employ someone who had previously served on the board until six months after the completion of their service. It also notes that current members will follow the Town of Litchfield’s Code of Ethics policy regarding employment.

To put any of these policies into the Town of Litchfield’s Code of Ethics, it would have to go through the process of a town meeting.

“You’re looking at something that can only get us sued and can’t do us any good,” board of education member John Bongiorno said of the bylaw.

The remaining points within the conflict of interest policy state that board members may not be employed by the board or school district or vote on issues regarding immediate family members (spouse or blood relative) employed by the district. The policy also states that the board should seek to avoid appointing member’s relatives to positions within the school district.

In addition to this, the policy states that no board member “shall have any direct pecuniary interest in a contract with the school district, nor shall he/she furnish any labor, equipment, or supplies to the district for compensation.” In an instance where a member works for a corporation or business involved with the board, he or she must say so and refrain from voting on issues regarding this business.